ArcelorMittal USA, one of the Region's largest employers, had a major economic impact last year.

The steelmaker's recently released 2017 United States Integrated Report said ArcelorMittal's U.S. operations produced more than 15 million tons of steel and had an economic impact of more than $10.6 billion. The Chicago-based steel company paid $2.1 billion in wages and benefits, including at its local operations in East Chicago, Burns Harbor, Gary, Riverdale and New Carlisle.

“I am proud of the work our teams have accomplished to emphasize sustainability in all we do. We have never backed down from our commitment to becoming the most sustainable steel company in the world,” ArcelorMittal USA President and CEO John Brett said. “This document, and the strategy it details, directly connect the work of our 10 sustainable development outcomes with our operations’ goals and business strategy. We know financial sustainability and corporate responsibility go hand in hand. Maintaining our commitments to our stakeholders is not an option, it’s a requirement.”

ArcelorMittal USA invested $246 million last year, and another $99 million in its AM/NS Calvert joint venture in Alabama, which took over some finishing operations once done at the century-old ArcelorMittal Indiana Harbor mill in East Chicago.

It also contributed about $8.3 million in community projects, about half of which went to science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, programs in local schools. Employees also donated more than 3,550 hours of time through ArcelorMittal-sponsored volunteer projects.

“Together, we have constructed a strong sustainability road map and crafted an attitude of resilience for ArcelorMittal in the United States,” said William C. Steers, president of the ArcelorMittal USA Foundation. “Resilience means facing challenges head on, tackling issues quickly and doing everything we can to rise to the occasion at every opportunity. It means continuing our work as a sustainable steel company even when that work isn’t easy — for our business, our customers and our communities.”

On the safety front, the steelmaker said it attained a lost time injury frequency rate of 0.95 last year, a 23 percent improvement over 2016 and an all-time record.

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Joseph S. Pete is a Lisagor Award-winning business reporter who covers steel, industry, unions, the ports, retail, banking and more. The Indiana University grad has been with The Times since 2013 and blogs about craft beer, culture and the military.

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